Everyone enjoys a tasty snack, especially when you’re hitting that mid-morning or that mid-afternoon slump and you need a little extra pick me up to get you through the rest of the day. However, there might be more going on than satisfying your hunger. When you enjoy your afternoon or mid-morning snack, it may be damaging your teeth more than you may even know. In today’s blog, we’ll be covering how healthy snacks can help your dental care instead of damage your pearly whites. We have a few healthy choices for snacks that you should enjoy in comparison to reaching for an unhealthy option and adding to dental damage, which we’ll touch upon later.
If you want to maintain strong teeth for your lifetime, you need to make sure you are eating enough whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.
Some other healthy snack choices include:
- Nuts and seeds
- Peanut butter
- Cheese
- Plain yogurt
- Popcorn
- Apple
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ACID EROSION IN YOUR TEETH
There are some drinks and snacks that are bad for your teeth and may contribute to acid erosion. Acid erosion happens when food or drink with a low pH level (more acidic) are consumed. That acid can linger in your mouth, taking the minerals away, and softening the surface of your teeth. This makes your teeth more susceptible to damage and often leads to increased sensitivity and may require treatment. The big offenders seem to be soft drinks, orange juice, and lemonade.
NUTRITION TIPS TO FOLLOW FOR BEAUTIFUL AND HEALTHY TEETH
- Try to avoid acidic food and drink between meals; there isn’t as much saliva in your mouth at these times to protect your teeth from damage.
- Don’t clean your teeth right after eating. If you brush while the acid is still in your mouth, you are removing some of your tooth’s surface. If you wait about an hour, the saliva will help your teeth battle the acid so it is safe to brush.
- Try to finish your breakfast, lunch or dinner with a little cheese or milk as these products help cut down on the acid in your mouth.
A Note About Sweets
When it comes to your teeth, it’s not about the amount of sweets you eat, but the length of time that you leave your teeth exposed to sweets. So it’s better to eat sweets at mealtimes rather than between meals, as the amount of saliva produced at mealtimes will help protect your teeth from the danger of sugar.
If you cannot avoid sweets between meals, choose something with less sugar like those listed above. Sticky sweets like toffee or hard candy should be avoided as snacks.
While we know that it can be difficult to avoid sugar, especially if you love it, eating these healthier snacks will ensure that your teeth are healthier and your dental care is in tip-top shape. By only eating sweets at meal time or avoiding drinks with a high content of acid, you can protect your gorgeous smile.
Do you have more questions about dental care? Speak to your dentist today. Contact us at 519-305-9100.
SOURCE: https://www.oda.on.ca/healthy-snacks68